Backyard Buddies

While big boys play baseball, these two are cute little buddies.  Usually playing and prince and princess (this is their throne)...having their own adventures in an orange wagon all around the backyard.  So glad they have each other!

Backyard Baseball

 

Last night Greg and Nathan and Joshua headed out to do what they love to do most of these beautiful fall evenings we've been having...play some baseball.  Before long, a cute boy from across the street opened the gate to our backyard with his mitt in hand...hoping he could play.  A few more minutes later two other boys (brothers) from around the corner poked their heads in to play.  These are the moments I think, "We are living the good life."  It's so nice to have the time to enjoy moment like these together, great neighbor kids who will poke their heads in, and a dad that makes it so fun for everybody!  (The lower right picture is Greg sending one of the neighbor boys over the fence to retrieve a ball.)

Family Halloween Party

It's a family tradition we've missed out on for years...and finally we got to be there!  The family Halloween Party!  It's fun it coincides with our niece Livi's birthday...so it's two parties wrapped into one!

Everyone dresses up...

Elizabeth as a Witch...

A really creepy one...

 Joshua as a Ninja.

We forgot Aaron's costume...but he's still pretty cute!

Max as a darling Ewok!  We was so good to keep it on too!

Chelsea as Professor Trelawney from Harry Potter.
That hair was even more fabulous than in the picture!

Mom as a Ghost Buster ... complete with a "busting" demo for the kids (she sucked up Kleenex ghost).

Nathan as a Wizard.
The beard was something Jon loaned him while we were down there...
which made the costume especially awesome! 

His staff is from our twisted willow tree in our backyard.

Bethany as a Biker Chick.

Emily as the fabulous Chloe Kashardian, Livi as Michelangelo the TMNT...awesome costume made herself, and Lexi as a hobo.

Mom always makes fun foods.  Frog eye salad with frogs hidden in it, Jiggly Jello with eye balls, the corn had spiders in it, plastic rats in the spaghetti noodles, a hand coming out of the bread stick bowl, etc. etc.!

Off to a Wedding Reception...

 

Had the chance to ride down together to a wedding reception of a Luthy cousin in Salt Lake this weekend.  It's fun to finally have the chance to go to some "family events" and to get to do it together!

Nathan Gets His Bear

 

A big Pack Meeting for Nathan this week!  He got his Bear and one Gold and two Silver Arrow points!

Staycation for UEA

On the Friday of UEA Weekend we met Greg downtown to do some of Temple Square, the Church Office Building, and the Church History Museum...specifically the 100 Years of Scouting exhibit with Norman Rockwell paintings.

Then...with Marriott Points from our credit card...with stayed the night in Draper.  A good excuse to get away and swim in a pool.  We even found a Fazoli's to eat at for dinner -- a favorite place we'd eat in Kokomo, Indiana because it had all-you-can-eat bread sticks.  :)  In the morning we shopped at Scheels -- fun big sporting goods store with a ferris wheel in the middle.  And then on to Cabela's.  We even got to have lunch with Jon and Chelsea and Max nearby!  A fun chance to get away and have a little fun together!

UEA Weekend -- Trip to SLC

At the top of the Church Office Building with our favorite Church employee.

It's fun how this city is starting to feel a little more like "ours". 

"Path to Destiny"

 

Nathan's Reflections entry this year.  A picture taken in North Logan while up there for Conference.  The Reflections theme this year is "Believe, Dream, Inspire".  He took it, cropped, and edited it.  I came upon it on the computer and loved that he'd titled the file "Path to Destiny".  

Mustache Day

 

"Spirit Week" at school included Mustache Day.
Even Elizabeth knew she needed to go to preschool with her mustache on!

General Conference Sunday

 

What a happy time to be together!

General Conference Weekend

 

Felt spoiled to get to spend General Conference weekend in Logan with Grandma and Grandpa Luthy!

Nathan's Utah Cake

 

Nathan's geography test in school was bringing in a frosted cake in the shape of Utah and then decorating it with additional frosting and other toppings to represent water, land forms, regions, etc.

Voice Male Concert!

 

 

A dream-come-true to take my boys to their first Voice Male Concert!  It was total magic!

School Fundraiser "Hike"

 

 

Two great boys ... two cute styles.  Nathan went around with one good friend, Nick, and his mom doing lap after lap ... keeping careful track of exactly how far he'd gone.  Joshua, with little to no concern about tallying distance covered, walked/jogged from friend to friend all around the field having a grand time.  Love these boys and am so grateful that they're both making such good friends.

Tombstones

 

Inspired by the VanShaars and started earlier this year when they were visiting...we finished our tombstones to decorate the front yard for October.  It's really fun that we live in a pretty festive neighborhood.  People love them and we fit right in!  :)

Family Hike

 

 

 

Had a great time on a small hike with the family!  One of the things I missed most in Michigan...more than looking at the mountains...was the perspective you can get from being on one.  It was so fun to have the kids be so appreciative of the views!

Daddy Dancing

 

Elizabeth got some tap shoes in a hand-me-down box from the neighbors.  I glanced out the window while I was making dinner and saw Daddy teaching Elizabeth a few steps from him tap dancing days.